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m n Dmm S B w uL R H M Jwm W U N0. 563,963. Patented July 14, 1896.

abbomwg pours out from between the blades of the UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

VILLIAM J. HOBBS, OF STEUBENVILLE, OHIO; W. V. B. CROSKEY EXECUTOR OFSAID HOBBS, DECEASED.

AUGER FOR FLOUR-PACKERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 563,963, dated July 14,1896. Application filed March 10, 1896. Serial No. 582,636. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, VVILLIAM J. HOBBS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Steubenville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Angers forFlour-Packing Machines; and I do declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification. I

My invention relates to angers commonly employed, in connection withoperating machinery, to pack flour, or other finely-divided material, inbags and barrels by continuous pressure, the flour being served to theauger by auxiliary devices.

My invention has for its object the improvement of such angers in thefollowing particular: Common to most flour-bagging machines in use atpresent is a vertical service or feed pipe into which the flour findsits way above the auger, which is revolved at a lower point within thepipe. Sometimes the feedpipe but slightly exceeds the anger in diameter,while in other machines the difference in sizeof the two parts is moremarked. \Vhatever maybe the inequality just referred to, a troublesomeincident occurs when it is desired to remove a filled bag and to replaceit by an empty one. At this stage of the operation the machinery isstopped, bringing the anger to rest. As the bag is taken from about themouth of the feed-pipe, more or less flour auger, and if not caught by asuitable recep-' tacle it falls upon the floor of the mill, becoming toall intents and purposes waste product; A portion of the quantity offlour spilled at each stoppage of the auger may be caught by the cuppedhands of the operative and transferred to the empty bag, or awooden trayof suitable construction and arrangement is provided to receive theoverflow. Both method and means described are exceedingly inconvenientand inefficient, causing additional labor to the attendant at eachmachine.

' By the use of the auger constituting my invention the disadvantagesabove recited are entirely obviated.

My improvement consists in attaching radial pivotal spring-operatedhinge-like extensions to the terminal edges of the angerblade's, whichextensions form uninterrupted continnations of the blades while themachinery is in motion and the descending column of flour in the pipeacts upon them. As the anger is brought to rest and the column of flouris no longer pressed upon it from above, the extensions are raised bythe springs and close, or partly close, the intervals between theblades. Each constituent element 6 of my invention is described indetail hereinbelow, with a complete explanation of its construction andoffice and of the mode of operation.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein like letters designatelike parts throughout the several views, Figure 1 represents a sideelevation showing the hinged extensions raised; and Fig. 2, a top planwith thatportion lying above the horizontal line X X of thefirst figureremoved, to show the details of the extensions and their positionsdnring'the revolution of the anger.

Considering Fig. 1, A represents the auger proper, having the throat orcentral portion, 13, provided with bore Z), and set-screw Z), whereby itmay be attached to a shaft.

Letters C and D designate the blades of the auger, each resembling theother as far as relates to general form. Upon blade C, Fig. 2, are foundlugs c o, bored to receive a pin E, about which is coiled the spring E,possessing a straight and comparatively rigid portion at each end. Theextension of blade Cis designated by letter G, and it is fashioned 0 tocontinue upper and lower surfaces, as well as outer and inner curvingboundaries of the blade. By means of ears 9 g, pierced to receive pin E,the extension is pivotally connected with the blade, the constructionbeing 5 that commonly found in hinges. Blade D also has lugs (Z (Z, andfrom the extension ll project the pierced ears h h. As the extensionsand attachments are precisely similar for both blades, a seconddescription isomitted.

The straight ends of springs F are arranged to project perpendicular toeach other, and while the spring encircles pin E one straight end isplaced in contact with the upper surface of blade 0 and the remainingstraight end rests against the lower face of extension G. Therefore, theextension will normally assume a position approximately at right anglesto the blade, and, if forced therefrom, will be returned to thatposition by the reaction of the spring.

The operation of my invention may be described as follows: Let the partsbe assembled as plainly indicated upon the drawing, with the springarranged as just explained. The extensions will take the position shownin Fig. 1. Attached to the upright shaft of a machine for packing flourin bags, within the pipe employed to feed the flour to the bags, theauger has above it a column of flour, and during the operation of themachine the column is constantly agitated interiorly byre volvingfingers usually projecting from the same upright shaft which terminatesin the auger. Stirred continually, the natural tendency of the column isdownward, and the space between the blades of the anger is thus keptcompletely filled with flour from above. As the blades revolve the flourbetween them is pressed into the bag that covers the mouth of the pipe,and it is this pressure which turns the extensions into the positionsshown in Fig. 2, wherein they continue the proper form of the blades. Indetermining the most desirable form for the parts and strength ofsprings F, care is taken to adopt proportions insuring a smooth andpractically uninterrupted lower surface throughout each blade when theextensions occupy the positions last described, in order that the flourmay be pressed into the bags steadily, regularly, and j with evendensity from first to last.

\Vhen the revolution of the blades ceases, the pressure upon theextensions is at once almost wholly relieved, the springs react and theextensions rise sufliciently to stop the flow of flour from between theblades, which would otherwise result in loss, as already explained.

I do not confine myself to any special form of anger or extensions, butmay change the shapes to suit variant conditions within the purview ofmy invention.

Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Let- Y ters Patent, is-

1. An auger for flour-packing machines having a spiral blade providedwith a pivoted, spring-operated terminal extension, substantially asdescribed.

2. An auger for flour-packing machines having a spiral blade providedwith a pivoted, spring-operated terminal extension, said extension beingheld normally at an angle with said blade and capable of being movedinto line with and adapted to continue the form of the blade,substantially as described.

3. An auger for flour-packing machines having spiral blades providedwith pivoted, spring-operated terminal extensions, said extensions beingheld yieldingly by the sprin at an angle with said blades and capable ofbeing moved into line with and adapted to continue the form of theblades, substantially as described.

4. An auger for flour-packing machines comprising spiral blades havingpivoted terminal extensions, springs adapted for arrangement betweensaid blades and extensions whereby the latter are yieldingly held at anangle with the former, the said extensions capable of being moved intoline with. and constructed to continue the form of the blades,substantially as described.

5. An auger for flour-packing machines, comprising blades having lugsprovided with orifices, blade extensions having ears provided withorifices, a pin whereby said blades and extensions may be pivotallyconnected, springs having straight end portions and adapted to encirclesaid pin, said straight-end portions of the springs arranged to projectat right angles with each other whereby said extensions are yieldinglyheld at an angle with said blades, the said extensions capable of beingmoved into line with and constructed to continue the form of the blades,substantially as described.

I11 testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM J. HOBBS. lVitnesses JAMEs Cams, 1-[. II. FICKES.

